Henry David Thoreau lived in the 1800’s, born in 1817 and passing away two months short of his 45th birthday. I am astounded sometimes at the questions and observations he raised several centuries ago that we would do well to re-visit today.

I’m wondering if Thoreau time-traveled to the present day, what would he think of the overwhelm and complexity of present day life?

Thoreau retreated from society for a period of two years, and then later published the book “Walden, or, Life in the Woods” to share his process of contemplation and introspection. Most people would likely argue when they read the below quote that they don’t have this time of luxury to contemplate life or their direction in it.

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately…” ~ Henry David Thoreau

But there are many ways to carve out space for periods of contemplation, even small ones. If we do not, we become swallowed up by society and the narrative that surrounds us. In this unprecedented era of mass media and technology, it is very easy for us to stop living consciously and deliberately. We are too busy “listening to” other people’s voices on our devices.

Do you have a quiet space to which you can retreat to contemplate and hear your own voice? When you claim that time, you can then live deliberately based on your own inner wisdom, rather than everyone else’s noise and point of view.

Living Deliberately © Susan L Hart 2021

The events of the (almost) two past years have given me much cause to think about how we define “wellness”. What is disturbing is how much humans worldwide are living in poor health, either by circumstance or by choice. We live in societies that overall do not promote true wellness.

Yes, there are countries and cultures where poverty dictates the level of health possible. However, in richer countries we see how people are overfed, sedentary, and stuck too much in front of their computers, leading to physical states that leave them vulnerable to many diseases. Humanity as a collective is not living in a state of wellness. We live in a system that reacts to illness, rather than proactively promoting good health. These two positions are light years apart!

Good health is not merely the absence of disease. There Is a vibrancy to wellness that cannot be derived from anything but taking good care of ourselves. All of the good things that we’ve known keep us well still apply. Fresh air, nature, nourishing food, physical exercise, adequate rest, playfulness, companionship, friendship, doing what we love. Oh yes, and the big one, simply LOVE in all of its forms and connections.

How often do you see any of that being talked about in mainstream news? “Not much” would be an understatement. Rather we are fed a constant “thought diet” of dire predictions. When you consider the connection between mind, body, and spirit, these messages are making us ill. They create worry and fear, which are very low vibration states. Negative thoughts and a low vibration make us vulnerable to physical illness.

In my opinion, wellness is just one of the ways in which the system needs a complete overhaul. All change begins with new thought. We need to change how we think about wellness, and develop a new vision for what is possible. A completely new philosophy is in order to move to a new paradigm.

You don’t need to wait for the system to change. You can make the change(s) yourself, and your thoughts, actions, and vibration will ripple outward to influence those around you. It is a “bottom to top” approach of change.

If you are not doing so already, embark on a path of personal holistic wellness, beginning today. Disconnect from the negativity. Embrace what feels good to you and resonates with your very soul. Tap into your inner being, and listen to your body, mind, and spirit. Above and beyond wellness, seek joyfulness in your experience here on Earth. We are all born with the intrinsic right to JOY.

Inspirational Quotes:

“Ignore those that make you fearful and sad, that degrade you back towards disease and death.” ~ Rumi

“Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

“There are many aspects to success; material wealth is only one component. …But success also includes good health, energy and enthusiasm for life, fulfilling relationships, creative freedom, emotional and psychological stability, a sense of well-being, and peace of mind.” ~ Deepak Chopra

Holistic Wellness © Susan L Hart 2021 | Friendly comments welcome